News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

April 26, 2009

Let the post-draft free agency period begin ... Day 3 of the draft - when teams hit the phones to sign priority free agents - already has begun. GM Scot McCloughan said the team usually signs eight to 12 undrafted free agents, "if we get lucky, a little more than 12."

It was notable that the 49ers did not draft either an offensive lineman or an outside linebacker in the draft despite the fact those are two areas of need for the team. McCloughan hinted that that could change as the team reels in free agents. Those players typically agree to terms tonight, have the actual contracts faxed to them tomorrow and the team announces the deal Tuesday.

Sometimes, however, word leaks out early as it did with speedy Purdue running back Kory Sheets, who visited the 49ers prior to the draft. KFFL.com reported that along with Stanford DE Pannel Egboh, Ohio State OT Alex Boone and Georgia Tech CB Jahi Word-Daniels. The 6-6 Egboh projects as a 3-4 defensive end.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.